Category Archives: Arts and Culture

Gundam Live-Action Film In The Works

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By Creative Media Times

Get ready, Mobile Suit Gundam is about to get a live-action feature film treatment, as Legendary and Sunrise are teaming up for the production, Variety is reporting.

The collaboration to produce the first ever live-action film of the popular mecha anime was announced at Anime Expo 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The multibillion-dollar Gundam franchise is massively successful, having grossed over $5 billion in retail sale, animated films, models and books among others.

The original Mobile Suit Gundam debuted in 1979 and was set in a fictional universe Universal Century wherein human space colonies wage war against earth for their independence. It is here where we saw mobile suites, a new type of humanoid weapons.

Recently, one of the more popular Gundam mecha made a special appearance in Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg’s science fiction adventure film which references various pop-culture characters. It was a crowd pleasing cameo which sees the character battle against Mechagodzilla and possibly aided the film’s box-office success.

The film’s plot has not yet been revealed, and no actors or director is currently attached.

Legendary has a new film set for release this month in the form of Skyscraper, Dwayne Johnson’s latest action-thriller.

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Film Spotlight: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

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By Creative Media Times

Focus Features

“The greatest thing that we can do is to help somebody know that they’re loved and capable of loving.”

Morgan Neville’s documentary about the life and philosophy of Fred Rogers is a hit with critics and audiences. The film currently holds a near-perfect score of 99% on eview aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with critical consensus praising the film for taking “a fittingly patient and honest look at the life and legacy of a television pioneer whose work has enriched generations.”

Since opening in limited release on June 8, the film from Focus Features has earned nearly $3 million dollars and is poised to enter the top 10 this weekend, stellar given it is playing in merely 348 theaters and in a film franchise dominated box-office landscape.

TV host, musician, puppeteer, writer, producer and Presbyterian minister, Rogers was the creator and host of the educational preschool television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood began airing in 1968 and ran for 895 episodes until 2001.

The half-hour educational children’s television series featuring Roger’s kind-hearted personality, reached its peak in 1985, with 8% of households watching the show. On March 6, 2018, actor Michael Keaton hosted a fiftieth-anniversary tribute show titled “Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like” which premiered on PBS stations.

“You take all of the elements that make good television, and do the exact opposite—you have “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” yet, it worked,” said producer Margy Whitmer.

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is currently playing in limited release in U.S. theaters.

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in his series of highly engaging, moving documentary portraits of essential American artists.

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AMC Launches Own Subscription Service

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By Creative Media Times

America’s largest movie chain is set to join Moviepass in the subscription service business with the announcement of AMC Stubs A-List, a program that will allow its loyalty program AMC Stubs members to see three films a week for $19.95 a month. The service goes into effect on June 26.

Last year, MoviePass made a big offering to moviegoers with one movie a day for $9.95 per month, a proposition many thought was too-good-to-be-true. By December, the service has reached a million subscribers. Though the service went through multiple pricing re-structures, its impact to movie industry remained.

AMC’s offering, might be more expensive than its MoviePass counterpart (almost double the cost of MoviePass) and for only up to three movies a week, the service has the advantage of premium formats such as 3-D and IMAX options which is missing on MoviePass subscription.

“We believe that our current and future loyal guests will be interested in this type of program, as AMC Stubs A-List rewards guests with something that no one else offers: the very best of AMC, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema and RealD 3D up to 3 times per week, for one simple, sustainable price,” said Adam Aron, CEO and President, AMC Theatres in a press release.

With competing services now being offered to moviegoers, we are sure this won’t be the last, while its longer term impact to the cinema industry as a whole remains to be seen.

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Midem Music Awards To Launch In 2019

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By Creative Media Times

The Cannes-based conference and trade show is set to stage their own “Midem Music Awards” in 2019. The event will take place from June 4-7 during next year’s Midem in Cannes.

This make it the first data-driven music awards, with data global music data platform Soundcharts providing the data. The initiative also intents to spotlight global and regional artists and celebrate success stories.

The Midem Music Awards will be the first truly data-driven music prizes, shining a spotlight on artists from all corners of the world and celebrating regional and global success stories.

“Today, artists have the opportunity to release their music instantly to a wider audience than ever before, and music fans across the globe can experience music from a more diverse set of artists, giving opportunities for new success stories to emerge from anywhere. With this new awards platform, we aim to recognise the exciting challenges of being a successful artist in the streaming era, and we are delighted to host this unique new event in the industry calendar,” said Alexandre Deniot, Director of Midem.

Held since 1967, MIDEM conference gathers thousands of international music professionals to discuss industry issues while recording artists, management and publishers network showcase their materials along with live music in the evenings.

According to organizers, this year was a resounding success, with year to year attending increase of 9% compared to last year.

Here is more about Midem:

Home of the Global Music Community, Midem is the world’s leading music event which brings together, connects, serves and supports the global music community to exchange, create, play, forge relationships and shape the future of music. With a rich 4-day programme of conferences, competitions, networking events and live performances, music makers, cutting-edge technology companies, brands & talent come together to enrich the passionate relationship between people & music, transform audience engagement and form new business connections. – www.midem.com

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Cannes Film Festival: “Shoplifters” Wins Palme d’Or

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By Creative Media Times

Aoi Pro, Inc.

“Shoplifters,” Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, won top prize Palme d’Or, highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was awarded as the festival comes to an end.

The family drama, which was also scripted and edited by Kore-eda, tells the story of an impoverished Japanese family who reply on shoplifting to cope with their life.

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most renowned, with winners eventually picking up more trophies during the year’s award season. It would be interesting to see if “Shoplifters” take a similar path.

This year’s festival run from May 8 to 19, with the competition jury headed by Cate Blanchett. Asghar Farhadi’s psychological thriller “Everybody Knows” starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem opened the festival.

Here’s some of the festival winners announced on Saturday night:

Palme d’Or:
“Shoplifters” directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda

Special Palme d’Or:
Jean-Luc Godard for “The Image Book”

Best Actress:
Samal Yeslyamova for “Ayka”

Best Actor:
Marcello Fonte for “Dogman”

Best Director:
Pawel Pawlikowski for “Cold War”

Jury Prize:
“Capernaum” directed by Nadine Labaki

To see the full list, head over to Cannes website.

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“Lois Lane” Margot Kidder Dies At 69

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By Creative Media Times

Actress Margot Kidder passed away Sunday at her home in Livingston, Montana. She was 69 years old.

The Canadian-American actress appeared in 135 films and television shows, including Brian De Palma’s cult thriller Sisters (1973), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) opposite Robert Redford, and the hit horror film The Amityville Horror (1979).

But it was her role as a plucky reporter Lois Lane in the 1978 Richard Donner film “Superman” with Christopher Reeve that would invigorate her career. The film at that time, was one of the most expensive ever made and later became one of the highest grossing films of the year.

It is considered by many as inspiration for today’s comic book films. Kidder would continue to play the role for its sequels “Superman II” (1980), “Superman III” (1983) and “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” (1987).

Reeve was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident in 1995 before he died died in 2004. In 1996, Kidder told in an interview with Barbara Walters that she had struggled with mental illness for decades.

The past few years, Kidder have been away from the spotlight, and spent most of time living in Montana.

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The American Pavilion Announces Programming At The 2018 Cannes Film Festival

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Acclaimed actors, filmmakers, movie executives, and journalists will be among those featured during the upcoming “Industry In Focus” Series and “In Conversation” programming at The American Pavilion at the 2018 Cannes International Film Festival, it was announced by Julie Sisk, Founder and Director of The American Pavilion (www.ampav.com).

The American Pavilion’s discussions and one-on-one in conversations take place in the Roger Ebert Conference Center and are open to all AmPav members.

Exciting panels and In Conversation events include filmmakers and stars of films ARCTIC, BEST F(R)IENDS, BLACKKKLANSMAN, HOUSE OF CARDIN, LEAVE NO TRACE, RAFIKI, SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, UNDER THE SILVER LAKE, THE EYES OR ORSON WELLES, WHITNEY, WILDLIFE and many more.

Programming includes executives and moderators fromCinetic Media, CSA, Focus Features, Gunpowder & Sky, IFC Midnight, ICM, IMDb, Indiewire, Pinewood Atlanta Studios, Roadside Attractions, SAG-AFTRA, Screen International, SingularDTV, Submarine, Sundance Film Festival among other notable speakers.
Continue reading →

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“13 Reasons Why” Season 2 Trailer Drops

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By Creative Media Times

Netflix

Netflix has released an intense new trailer for Season 2 of “13 Reasons Why,” revealing more stories to tell after season 1’s controversial ending. “I just felt like this whole thing was gonna be over. But it’s not,” says Dylan Minnette’s character Clay Jensen.

The teen mystery drama television series, based on the novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, follows the story of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) who takes her own life after experiencing a series of demoralizing circumstances brought on my people around her at school, a series she outlined in 13 cassette tapes which she left to her schoolmates.

Season one was told in the same sequence that Hannah made the tapes. The series lead Dylan Minnette is Clay Jensen, a close friend of Hannah who listens to the tapes and narrates what happened to her.

Based on the trailer, Season two will deal more about the aftermath of her death, most likely connecting a few loose ends suggested in last year’s finale episode. The show was also a hit for Netflix and received a few accolades, which somewhat guaranteed the follow-up series.

Season 2 of “13 Reasons Why” is set to premiere on Friday 18 May on Netflix.

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LAIKA Announces “Missing Link” As Its Next Film

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By Creative Media Times

LAIKA Entertainment

Ever wonder what studio behind that incredible film Kubo and the Two Strings has been up to? Well now we have an answer.

LAIKA chief Travis Knight unveiled today its highly-anticipated feature “Missing Link,” the animation studio’s fifth film and set to be its most ambitious to date. The film was revealed today at the Cannes Film Festival.

Described as a fun-filled, globe-circling extravaganza with a profound message of acceptance and finding one’s place, the film will feature global stars such as Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Timothy Olyphant, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Ching Valdez-Aran and Amrita Acharia.

The film is written and directed by Chris Butler, who was nominated with Sam Fell for a Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards for ParaNorman. LAIKA also most recently released the the Academy Award® nominated Kubo and the Two Strings as well as The Boxtrolls, and Coraline.

“Missing Link is an artistic and technical wonder,” said Mr. Knight. “Led by our visionary director Chris Butler, LAIKA has once again blended fine art, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology to achieve something we’ve never tried before: a raucous comedy entwined with a swashbuckling epic, underscoring the universal need to find belonging. Commingling keenly felt emotion, madcap humor, and retina-bursting visuals, Missing Link is a kaleidoscopic cinematic experience unlike any other. It’s the most striking thing we’ve ever done.”

Annapurna Pictures is eyeing Spring 2019 for the film’s U.S. Release, with AGC International handling its foreign sales.

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Bruce Springsteen To Receive Special Tony Award

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By Armando

http://brucespringsteen.net/broadway

“The Boss” is on fire this week, first fueling record vinyl sales per Billboard earlier this week, and now a Special Tony Award from American Theatre Wing on the way.

“Springsteen On Broadway” is the artist’s concert residency at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City where Springsteen performs solo, playing piano and guitar, and reminisce incidents from the eponymous autobiography “Born to Run, based on his iconic third studio album.

Springsteen performed five shows every week from Tuesday though Saturday. Springsteen’s wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa also appeared at most shows.

The show was an instant success when it debuted, with Rolling Stone calling it “one of the most compelling and profound shows by a rock musician in recent memory.” The run started on October 3, 2017 and was originally supposed to end on November 26, 2017, but was extended twice due to high demand, once to this summer June 30, 2018, and again until December 15, 2018. Given the circumstances, don’t be surprised if the show gets another extension.

“Bruce Springsteen will receive his Special Tony Award for his ongoing engagement Springsteen on Broadway, a once-in-a-lifetime theatregoing experience for the Broadway stage, allowing fans an intimate look at a music idol,” the New York City-based organization announced. Also receiving a special award is John Leguizamo, who is being honored “for his body of work and for his commitment to the theatre, bringing diverse stories and audiences to Broadway for three decades.”

The Tony Awards is set to take place on June 10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The ceremony will broadcast live on CBS and will be hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban.

To see the complete list of nominees, go to tonyawards.com.

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